Folding belt-shackle



(No Model) L. G. FERRELL. FOLDING BELT SHAGKLES.

No. 583,796. Patented June 1, 1897.

NITE STATES ATENT FFICE.

LEONIDAS O. FERRELL, OF NEXV ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.

FOLDING BELT-SHACKLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 583,796, dated June 1, 1897.

Application filed December 31, 1896. $erial No. 617,692. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEONIDAS O. FERRELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Orleans, in the parish of Orleans and State of Louisiana,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Belt-Shackles; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the'same.

My invention relates to shackles for securing prisoners, and is designed more particu larly as an improvement upon the shackle disclosed in the Letters Patent granted to David Israel and myself under date of April 10, 1888, No. 381,005. I

The general object of my present invention is to provide a simple, compact, and strong shackle having a body-belt of such construction that it is adapted to be compactly folded, so as to permit of the shackle being conveniently carried in the pocket, and one in which handcuffs for securing the hands of a prisoner to the belt and a chain for securing the prisoner to a post or for connecting a shackle on his leg with the belt are connected with the said belt in such manner that any one or all of them may be readily detached by an officer when desired.

WVith the foregoing ends in view the invention Will be fully understood from the following description and claims when taken in conjunction with the annexed drawing, in which the figure is a perspective view of my improved shackle complete and ready for use, the chain being shown as broken.

Referring by letter to the said drawing, A designates the body-belt of my improved shackle. This beltAis composed of five (more or less) sections B, preferably formed of spring or resilient steel, which are normally straight, but are designed to bend to conform to a prisoners body and permit of the end sections being connected as shown. Each of the intermediate sections B has one of its end portions arranged at the inner side of the end portion of one section and its opposite end portion arranged at the outside of the contiguous end portion of the next succeeding section, while one end section has one of its end portions arranged at the outside of the end portion of the contiguous intermediate section and the opposite end section has one of its end portions arranged at the inner side of the end portion of the intermediate section contiguous thereto. The lapped portions of the said sections B are connected in a pivotal or hinged manner by rivets O or other suitable means, and consequently it will be seen that when the end sections are not connected together the belt maybe folded so that all of the sections will restside by side and in this condition may be conveniently carried in the pocket, which is a desideratum. I prefer to form the sections B of resilient or spring steel, as before stated, but I desire it understood that I do not confine myself to forming the sections of such material, as when desired they may be made rigid of steel or other suitable material and in the curved form shown.

One of the end sections of the belt A is provided with a hasp D, and the other end section has two (more or less) apertures E to receive the hasp D, the plurality of apertures E being provided in order to permit of the belt being fitted to persons of different sizes. The hasp D is designed to receive the bow of a spring or other suitable lock F, and when said lock is secured to the hasp, as shown, it will be seen that the end sections of the belt will be securely connected together. It will also be seen that the connection of the end sections may be very quickly and easily effected, which is an important advantage.

One of the end sections of the belt B is provided with a loop F, and to this loop is connected, by links G or other suitable means, a lock H, which has a bow I, as shown. To this bow are separately connected, by links or other suitable means, handcuffs J, which may be of the ordinary or any suitable 'construction, and a chain K. The handcuffs J are designed to receive the wrists of the prisoner, so as to hold his hands down in front of him in such a position as to effectually prevent him from running rapidly or offering material resistance.

The chain K is designed to be connected with a shackle on theprisoners leg to retard his progress, and for the purpose of such connection said chain is provided with a ring or large loop at its free end, as shown. Said chain K may also be used to secure a prisoner temporarily to a lamp-post or other stationary object, so as to enable an officer to arrest another prisoner.

The bow I of the lock H is designed to operate like the bow of an ordinary spring-lock, and consequently it will be seen that either the chain or the handcuffs may be readily disconnected from the lock II and from the belt when desired.

It will be observed from the foregoing that my improved shackle may be made so compact as to permit of it being conveniently carried in the pocket, and it will also be observed that with the shackle an officer may readily secure a prisoner in such a manner as to prevent him from offering any effective resistance.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

1. As an improved article of manufacture a shackle-belt comprising a plurality of sections having their contiguous end portions lapped and pivotally connected together, whereby, when the belt is folded, said sections are adapted to rest compactly side by side, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. As an improved article of manufacture, a shackle-belt comprising a plurality of normally straight sections of resilient or spring metal; the said sections having their contiguous end portions lapped and pivotally connected together whereby, when the belt is folded, said sections are designed to rest straight and compactly side by side, and the end sections being provided with means for connecting them together so as to secure the belt upon the body of a prisoner, substantially as specified.

3. A shackle comprising a belt adapted to be secured upon the body of a prisoner, a lock having a body permanently connected with the belt and also having a bow, handcuffs connected with the bow of the lock in such a manner that they may be detached when the bow is opened, and a chain also connected to the bow of the lock in such a manner that it may be detached when the bow is opened, substantially as specified.

4. A shackle comprising a belt adapted to be secured upon the body of aprisoner, a lock having a body permanently connected with the belt and also having a bow, and a chain connected with the bow of the lock and having a ring or large link at its free end adapted to receive the lock-bow; the said chain being adapted to secure a prisoner to a stationary object, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LEONIDAS C. FERRELL.

lVitnesses:

J os. LAUBENSCHLAEGER, EMILE KLIEN. 

